Automatic gate and door.



PATBNTBD MAY 8, 1906.

R. H. WILLIAMS. AUTOMATIC GATE AND DOOR.

ARPLIQATION FILED JAN. 13. 1905.

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PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

R. R. WILLIAMS.

AUTOMATIC GATE AND DOOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13. 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orFroE.

RUSSELL R. WVILLIAMS, OF MORRISON, COLORADO, ASSIGN OR TO ALICE L.

' ILLIAMS, OF MORRISON, COLORADO.

AUTOMATIC GATE AND DOOR.

To all whom it m/cty concern:

Be it known that I, RUssELL R. WIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morrison, in the county of Jefferson and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gates and Doors; and'l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in swinging gates, doors, &c.; and its object is to provide a structure of this character having means whereby the same can be opened automatically by an approaching vehicle and which can be automatically closed after the vehicle has passed through the opening in which the gate or door is mounted.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of a swinging structure hung on a fixed support and adapted when open to be automatically engaged by a looking device. Mounted upon the support is a rotatable device having a novel mechanism connected thereto whereby said device can be swung upon its bearings by a vehicle approaching the structure. Means are inter posed between the rotating device and the gate and support, respectively, for swinging the movable structure into closed and open position.

The invention also consists in certain other novel features, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a gate provided with my improved operatin attachments, said gate being shown inc osed position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the gate and adjoining parts, showing the first position assumed by said parts when the gate is open. Fig. 3 shows the position assumed by the parts in preparation for closing the gate. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on line 90, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a section on line y y, Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view showing the relative positions of the operating-levers, the catches, and their connecting devices.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a gate-post to which a gate 2 of any preferred construction is hinged in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 13,1905. Serial No. 240,926.

Patented May 8, 1906.

ordinary manner. Another post 3 is provided for limiting the movement ofthe gate in one direction, and a third post 4 is located on a line at right angles to the posts 1 and 3 and at a distance from the postl equal to the distance between said posts 1 and 3. Arranged adjacent the post 1 and at the side thereof opposite to that on which the post 4 is located is a small locking post 5, and this post 5 is provided with a weighted catch 6, which is pivoted thereon and has a beveled head 7, adapted to be normally raised by the weight 8 at the opposite end of the catch. Another catch 9, constructed similarly to the catch 6, is mounted on post 4 and is for the purpose of engaging and holding the gate 2 when the same is open. A lever 10 is arranged at one side of the gate at a considerable distance beyond post it and is preferably fulcrumed adjacent the center, and the upper end of this lever is provided with a cap 11, adapted to be contacted by a wheel of a vehicle approaching or leaving the gate. It will of course be understood that the lever projects a sufiicient distance above the level of the ground to permit the same to be given considerable movement when the same 1s depressed by a vehicle-wheel. Another lever 12 is arranged at the opposite side of the gate 2 and at a considerable distance from it, and this lever is also centrally fulcrumed and has a cap 13, similar to cap 11. Both levers 10 and 12 have weights 14 for holding them normally in upright positions. A cable 15 extends from the upper portion of lever 10 and around a pulley 16 upward to catch 9 at a point between the pivot and head of said catch, and another cable 1'7 extends from said catch at a point betweenits head and pivot down under pulley 18, and thence to the upper portion of lever 12, to which it is connected. A cable 19 extends from the lower portion of lever 12 and under a pulley 20 up to the catch 6 and is connected to said catch at a point between its pivot and head, and a fourth cable 21 extends from said catch at a point between its head and pivot downward under the pulley 20 and thence to the lower portion of lever 10, to which it is connected.

If preferred, a conduit 22, of terra cotta or other desired material, may be placed within the ground and the cables, as well as the pulleys 16, 1S, and 20, placed therein.

Arms 23 extend laterally from post 1 and form bearings for a shaft 24. This shaft extends downwardly into the conduit 22 and has an arm 25 projecting from it at right angles thereto and normally parallel with the closed gate 2. A lever 26 is arranged adjacent to the gate-opening and has a weight 27 for holding it normally in an upright position. The lower end of this lever is connected to the end of arm 25 by the normally slack cable 28. oppositely-disposed inclined pulleys 29 are located adjacent the lower end of lever 26 when the same is in its normal position and serve to guide the cable when said 1 lever is operated. A cap 30 is arranged on the upper or outer end of lever 26 and is adapted to be depressed by a vehicle-wheel and swing the lever upon its fulcrum. The

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lower portion of this lever, as well as the cable 28 and the pulleys 29, are preferably lo cated in a branch conduit 32, extending at right angles from conduit 22.

An arm 33 extends from the upper end of shaft 24 at right angles thereto and in a plane at right angles to that in which the arm 25 is located. This arm 33 is normally engaged by catch6, and when so engaged a spring 34, which connects it to the edge of post 1 adjoining gate 2, is under tension. An eye 35 is formed at the free end of arm 33 and is engaged by one end of a rod 36, which bears against astopplate 37, secured to the gate 2. A coiled spring 38 is arranged on the rod 36 and is secured at one end to arm 33, while its other end is fastened to the gate or stoplate 37.

It will of course be understood that the gates and all of the parts connected thereto arenormally in the position shown in Fig. 1. When the gate is released from its fastened opened position, the tension-spring 38 will draw it back into closed position. If a vehicle approaches the gate from either direction, it can be used to open and closethe gate automatically. For instance, if the vehicle first reaches lever 10 and rides upon the cap 11 thereof it will spring the lever in the direction of the arrow and pull on cable 21, which in turn will draw the head 7 of catch 6 downward and release the arm 33. As spring 34 is normally tense, it will promptly contract when the arm 33 is released and cause said arm and its shaft 24 to rotate. The arm will press rod 36 against plate 37 and throw the gate open with such violence as to swing it into engagement with the weighted catch 9, by which it will be held open. This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 2. In opening the gate the arm 25 swings away from lever 26 and draws the cable 28 taut, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. The vehicle can now pass through the gate, and when it reaches the gate-opening it will ride upon cap 30, and thereby swing lever 26 upon its fulcrum and pull on cable 26 and arm 25. As the gate is held against movement by catch 9, the rotation of arm 25 and its shaft 24 will not move the gate, but will instead swing arm 33 around into engagement with catch 6 and stain the two springs 34 and 38. The parts will thus assume the positions shown in Fig. 3. The gate is now set to be operated for closing, and all that is necessary is to unlock it. This is done automatically by guiding the vehicle over lever 12, which will cause the lever to swing in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1. Cable 17 will therefore be drawn longitudinally and will pull catch 9 downwardly out of engagement with the gate. The tensionspring 38 will promptly pull the gate around in closed position and the parts are then in position to be again operated in the manner herein described. It will be readily understood that this operation will be exactly the same if the vehicle approaches the gate from the opposite direction.

While the opening and closing of the gate can be caused by a vehicle coming in engagement with members 11, 13, and as it passes, I have also provided means for manually controlling the movement of the gate. The plate 37 is provided with an inclined surface which is adapted to be engaged by the rod .36 for directing said rod to a position whereby said rod is normally locked in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The outer free end of rod 36 is provided with a hook which engages a pivotally-mounted hook 39, which is carried by the gate. The movable hook 39 is normally retained in engagement with plate 37 by means of an expansible member 40, secured to the member 39 and to one side of the gate. It will be obvious that the spring or expansible member 40 is connected to the end of the movable member 39, which is not provided with a hook. When the mechanism for causing movement of the gate is actuated by a vehicle to open the same, the outer hooked end of the bar journaled in the'eye 35 of rod 33 disengages member 39 by reason of the fact that its free end will ride over the inclined surface of plate 37 and from engagement with the hook member 39 as the gate moves to a wide-opened position. The flexible member 41 is secured at its outer end to the gate, and its inner end is secured in an operative position to the straight end of the hook member 39. If a person desires to pass through the gate, it is only necessary to grasp the flexible member 41 intermediate its ends and pull outwardly thereon to impart movement to the movable hook member 39 for disengaging said member from the rod 36-.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a swinging element and a support therefor, of an operatingarm connected to the support, a lock therefor, means for automatically moving the arm when unlocked, a power-transmitting device connected to the arm and bearing on the swinging element, and means for holding said element normally in contact with the powertransmitting device.

2. The combination With a swinging element, and a support therefor, of a movable operating-arm, means for locking the arm against movement, means for automaticallyoperating the arm when unlocked, a motiontransmitting device connected to the arm and bearing on the swinging element, and means connecting said element and arm for holding the element normally in contact with the power-transmitting device.

3. The combination with a swinging element and a support therefor; of an operatingarm, a lock therefor, means for automatically operating the arm when unlocked, a power transmittin device secured to the arm and bearing on t e element, means for unlocking the arm, and a catch for the swinging element. v

4. The combination with a swinging element and a support therefor, and means for automatically locking said element in open position; of an operating-arm connected to the support, means for automatically operating the arm, apower-transmitting device connected to the arm and bearing on the element, and means for locking the arm against movement to hold the element in closed position.

5. The combination witha swinging element and a support therefor, and means for automatically locking the element in open position of an operating-arm mounted upon the support, means for automatically moving the arm, a lock for holding the arm against movement, a power-transmitting device connected to the arm and bearing on the element, and means for successively unlocking said element and the operating-arm.

6. The combination with a swinging element and a support therefor, and means for locking the element in open position; of an operating-arm connected to the support, means for automatically moving the same, a lock for holding the arm against movement, an elastic connection between the element and the operating-arm for holding said element in closed position, when the arm is locked.

7. The combination with a swinging element, a support therefor, and means for locking the element in open position; of an operating-arm, means for automatically moving said arm, a lock for holding the arm against movement, a power-transmitting device connected to the arm and bearing on the ele ment, an elastic connection between said element and the arm, and means for successively unlocking the arm and element.

8. The combination with a swinging element, a support therefor, and means for automatically locking the element in open position; of an operating-arm, means for automatically moving the same, a lock for holding the arm against movement, means connected to the arm and bearing on the element for transmitting motion to said element, an elastic connection between the element and the arm, and means removed from the element and its support for independently unlocking the element and operatingarm.

9. The combination with a swinging element, a support therefor, and means for automatically locking said element in open position, of an operating-arm, means for automatically moving the same, a lock for holding the arm against movement, means connecting the arm and element for positively opening said element in one direction, means connecting said element and arm for auto matically closing the element when the same is unlocked, a device for independently operating the locks and means for moving the arm into engagement with its lock.

-10. The combination with a swinging element, and a support therefor, and means for locking said element in open position; of an operating-arm, a lock therefor, a spring connection between the arm and support, means for swinging the arm into engagement with the lock, to tension the spring, and an elastic connection between said arm and the swinging element.

11. The combination with a swinging element, and a support therefor, and means for locking said element in open position; of an operating-arm, a lock therefor, a springconnection between the arm and support, means for swinging the arm into engagement with the look to tension the spring, an elastic con nection between said arm and the swinging element, and a power-transmitting device connected to the arm and bearing on the ele ment.

12. The combination with a swinging element, a support therefor, and means for lock ing the element in open position; of a shaft connected to the support, an operating-arm extending therefrom, a spring connection between said arm and support, a lock for the arm, a power-transmitting device connected to the arm and bearing on the element, a spring connection between said element and arm, operating devices at opposite sides of the swinging element, means connecting said devices and the locks for independently operating said locks,and an operating device adjacent the swinging element for swinging the arm into engagement with its lock.

13. The combination with a swinging gate and a support therefor, of means for securing said gate in different adjusted positions, a spring coacting with said gate for moving the same to an opened position, and a spring for moving said gate from an opened to a closed position.

14. The combination with a support, of a IIO swinging gate carried thereby, elastic means I same from a closed to an opened position, 10 operating against said gate for moving the and automatically-actuated means for resame to and fixedly securing it in an adjustturning the said gate to its closed position.

ed position, and elastic means for moving In testimony whereof I have aflixed my said gate from said adjusted position. I signature in presence of two Witnesses.

15. In combination With a support, a RUSSELL R. WILLIAMS. swinging gate carried by said support, means Witnesses: for securing said gate in different positions, a C. E. SMEDLEY, spring coacting with said gate for moving the OARLE WHITEHEAD. 

